UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 103495 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER UNSC EG SUBJECT: UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE LONGSTANDING USG HOLDS ON EGYPTIAN TERRORIST SANCTIONS REQUESTS REF: CAIRO 1176 Classified By: IO PDAS James B. Warlick, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. -------------- BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (C) In March 2005, the GOE nominated 20 names for inclusion on the UN 1267 Committee's Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, al-Qaida or the Taliban. Seven of the nominated names were approved and subsequently listed in 2005, however, the USG placed a hold on 13 of these names because there was insufficient information for us to support their listing. In May 2008, the GOE submitted additional information on all 20 names to the 1267 Committee, but this additional information was not sufficient for the U.S. to be able to support these listings. These coordination (and subsequent cooperation) problems reflect a need for a better working relationship with the GOE on 1267 sanctions. Consequently, we propose a plan to (i) resolve these holds, (ii) identify new designation targets of mutual concern, and (iii) host a regional 1267 sanctions workshop in January 2009. -------------- OBJECTIVES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) U.S. objectives are: -- Developing a closer working relationship with the GOE on 1267 sanctions, including being responsive to Egypt,s submissions for listings to the 1267 Committee. -- Underscoring to the GOE that we do not place holds or block listing requests lightly, and our preference if possible is to support other countries, nominations to the 1267 Committee. -- Ensuring the GOE understands the types of information that the USG seeks in order to support these designations. -- Cooperating at an earlier stage to propose 1267 listings to ensure the USG has sufficient information and can satisfy domestic legal requirements in order to support the listing request. ¶4. (SBU) TREASURY EXPERT TEAM: We propose sending a team of Department of Treasury technical experts to Cairo as soon as possible to (i) discuss with the GOE gaps in information to support the 13 listing requests (including gathering additional information about the 13); (ii) identify new designation targets of mutual concern; and (iii) develop robust evidentiaries for submission to the UN 1267 Committee. In the context of how the USG sanctions regime processes national and international designations, Treasury would outline why the process is stalled. ¶5. (SBU) REGIONAL 1267 SANCTIONS WORKSHOP: To facilitate these objectives, we suggest the GOE host a US-coordinated regional 1267 sanctions workshop focused on strengthening information-gathering and targeting techniques, as well as developing evidentiary packages for UN submission that also meet US domestic legal criteria. To this end, we recommend to GOE interlocutors that they host such a meeting, and ask who they think might be appropriate interlocutors. (USG would like to see participation by Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia). Senior representatives from Treasury and State, who would co-lead the USG team for the workshop, will be available to support such a workshop. Ideally, we would like to see Cairo host such a workshop in January 2009. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶6. (U) Drawing on the objectives above and the points in paragraph 7, Department requests that Post convey to the GOE the USG,s commitment to develop stronger working relations on 1267 sanctions, including resolving longstanding holds, STATE 00103495 002 OF 002 SUBJECT: UN 1267: REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE LONGSTANDING USG HOLDS ON EGYPTIAN TERRORIST SANCTIONS REQUES developing new targets, and developing supporting information to propose new names, either jointly or with Egypt in the lead, for 1267 listing. Department also requests that Post propose that Egypt host a regional workshop in Cairo in January 2009 with participation by the USG, and government officials from Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. ¶7. (U) Post may wish to draw from the following points in delivering demarche: -- The USG is working to strengthen the 1267 Consolidated List. -- We recognize the frustrations the GOE has had with the 1267 process. We remain committed to supporting Egypt's requests to add names to the 1267 Consolidated List, and would like to work with Egypt to outline the types of information that the U.S. is seeking in order to make a final determination on whether we can support these requests. -- In addition to seeking resolution of holds on Egypt,s previous 1267 submissions, we would also like to work with the GOE to identify new designation targets of mutual concern for submission, jointly or with Egypt in the lead, to the UN 1267 Committee for listing. --In order to accomplish these goals, the USG proposes sending technical experts from the U.S. Department of Treasury to Cairo to discuss these holds as well as to explore options for new targets of mutual concern. The U.S. team is prepared to schedule this consultation at your earliest convenience. -- To strengthen USG cooperation in the North Africa region on 1267 sanctions, we propose that the GOE consider hosting a regional workshop on 1267 sanctions, focusing on targeting techniques, information-gathering and info-sharing, and developing joint packages for UN designation. We envision this event to include counter-terrorism authorities from Egypt, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. Senior Treasury representatives would launch this event. Setting a date for the workshop in January would allow for sufficient time for planning. We welcome your input on the workshop, topics of discussion, and proposed dates. -------------- POC AND REPORTING DEADLINE -------------- ¶8. (U) Questions may be directed to IO/PSC (Erin Crowe, 202-736-7847). Please slug cable response for IO/PSC Erin Crowe, EEB/ESC/TFS Jay J. Jallorina, NEA/RA Conny Arvis, NEA/ELA Stephen Newhouse, and Treasury/TFFC Katherine Leahy. ¶9. (U) Post is requested to report by October 10 on the GOE,s interest in (1) hosting a U.S. technical expert-level delegation to Cairo to discuss the USG holds on 13 Egyptian UN 1267 listing requests and explore potential future targets for joint submission, and (2) hosting a North Africa targeted financial sanctions workshop focused on targeted techniques and other pre-designation issues potentially to be held in Cairo in January 2009. ¶10. (U) Department appreciates Post,s efforts. RICE